Even though it's unlikely to ever happen, I do enjoy quite seriously planning this as thought it will.

First Item:
Pay off my existing debits, minimal as they are. Currently it's like $12K on my car and hovering right about at $1K on my credit cards as of this moment. Eventually I'd want a new car, I think, but for now I'd probably just fix up the small cosmetic things and wait until it craps out to buy something new.

Second Item:
Determine a reasonable allowance for my parents - separately. My mother would no longer have to stay with my father if she didn't want to. I wouldn't pay off their debts, though, because honestly there's no point. My mother's medical bills will always be astronomical and all their other debts are manageable if they didn't have to worry about basics like rent and such. I wouldn't give either of them a bulk amount because they wouldn't manage it well, so it would be a monthly number and it would continue indefinitely.

Third Item:
Pay off Brian's car and student loans. The total is probably more than my personal debts, but still a small enough number that it's not exactly going to force me to make any sacrifices later on down the line.

Fourth Item:
Personal Trainer and Boobs! I know this is a ridiculous priority level, but I'm completely serious. I would hire a personal trainer to help get me the last leg of this journey because, at this point, it honestly seems like I need someone to LITERALLY kick my butt to get me back in gear. Once I reach the weight I wanted to be, I'd get the boobs I've always wanted.

Fifth Item:
A million dollars isn't going to last forever, and even if it did, I'd still want to work, so I'd finally get my bachelor's degree. I'd keep working part time if it were possible, but considering it would only take me two years to finish up my schooling, it's not as though I couldn't afford to take the time off and just study. Brian's employer offers generous tuition reimbursement, but if it didn't, I'd help him with his Masters if he still wanted it, too.

Final Item:
Invest! I'd want to be sure I could continue the allowance for my parents for as long as possible while maintaining financial security for myself. I'm pretty sure I could manage a few hundred thousand well enough to keep us comfortable for some time. Too bad we'll never really know.

Despite not knowing the full extent of the meme, I liked the idea of a particular post. I'm not entirely sure why, and I'm pretty sure most of my friend list won't be especially interested, but it's my journal, after all. And it's one of those moods.

( Purse )

( Work Purse )

Although the boy was absolutely obsessed with the Beatles, it's not their music that makes me think of him. Ever. I'm less sure this is because there's less of a memory-attachment to it than that I just hear it less often, but whatever.

The music that does remind me of him instantly, however, is anything at all by Pink Floyd. I can't put my finger on exactly why, but it does. Something about the tone, maybe? The mood of the music? The explanation feels almost right, but I can't be entirely sure.

None the less, it's not at all that I can't stand to hear it, I harbor no ill-will or any of that, it's just a simple fact that it brings him immediately to mind.

Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies or anything that sounds like them makes me think of Danny, but that, too, isn't something I come across very often or something I mind hearing.

While I think it's a little unfortunate as some people have come to rely on compulsive couponing to make ends meet, I can't say I disagree with stores changing their coupon policies as a result of shows like Extreme Couponing bringing to light the advantages of putting in the time to make the most of it.

The purpose of coupons is not for you to get tons of things for free or for you to be paid to shop. They're to encourage you to either buy new products because the coupon may make them cheaper than your usual preference or to keep you loyal to your current favorites because the coupon brings their usual price down. Sorry to burst your bubble, but that's the business end of it.

All that having been said, I think the new policies are within reason. The store I shop at most has limited its list of acceptable competitor coupons to stores that are truly, from a business perspective, their competitors. Just because you can somehow get your hands on an awesome coupon for a store three counties over that may carry similar products does not mean they are a competitor - you certainly wouldn't drive three counties over to get their products on a regular basis, would you? Even if you would, I guarantee you are in the minority. They are also limiting the number of items you can use the same coupon on. You're not going to be able to buy 150 sticks of deodorant just because you went dumpster diving for coupons that would ultimately make you fifty cents on each stick (and in reality, probably more than that, because who really needs 150 sticks of deodorant? You may give some away, but I wouldn't be surprised if you sold some, either).

None the less, you can still realize some pretty significant savings just by shopping to the sales and using coupons. Between buy one, get one deals, a couple buy X number for Y amount deals, and my usual coupons (I buy two papers each week for a total of 1.07), I saved 48% on my shopping trip today and most of it is stuff that will last me weeks.

I am incredibly judgemental. It's a no-holds-barred thing. I don't care if you're two or two hundred, if we've been friends for ages or never been in the same room before, if it's a matter of fact or favor - if I disapprove, I disapprove and it is typically written all over my face. I've been told at times it makes me seem arrogant and I know I can be rude depending on just what it is I disapprove of. I'm almost positive my friends would agree this is my worst personality trait.

As for my best, I'm really not sure. There isn't any one thing in isolation I think is all that note-worthy about me, it's the way it all comes together that's so special. I'm quite quaint.

My first day of being a coupon shopper was a huge success. I spent roughly $100 and saved roughly $40. It took a whole extra hour of my time, maybe. Well worth it, I'd say. I bought two newspapers this morning, I spent some time browsing online coupon sources, I had some coupons from last week, and then I looked through my local grocery stores sites to find where the best deals were happening.

I went to three stores: Walgreens (not worth it over all, in my opinion, since their prices are horrible if not on sale), Publix (YAY BOGO!), and Sweetbay.

Since I'd made a list and stuck to it 90%, the shopping itself was pretty in-and-out. I just got lost in Publix because I had it in my head that shampoo and feminine products should be in the same aisle (and I maintain that they should), but couldn't for the life of me find where they were hiding the product I needed in the aisle I was in. Call me bashful, but I was not about to ask a male employee where the tampons were, so it took a bit, but eventually I found those, too.

All in all, totally thrilled.

The first things I do every day, regardless of whether it's a week day or weekend, in order, are go potty and weigh myself.

I know there's a school of thought that says it's not a good idea to weigh yourself every day, but it keeps me sane. I weigh in and go on about my day regardless of the result - up, down, or same as the day before. If I don't get on the scale, however, I worry all day that I somehow gained 39873496873 pounds without noticing it and spend all day analyzing my entire previous day to see if I can think of anything that'd have accounted for this assumed gain. Yes, I realize this is neurotic, but 125 pounds lost later, I don't much care.

As for the potty, I long ago realized my bladder either is or thinks it is approximately the size of a small walnut and dislikes holding much more than the volume a can of soda for more than an hour.

The year is off to an amazing start.

Brian and I spent New Year's Eve with my best friend and her fiance - just as we did the night we first met. I think I was more excited about that than I've been so far about our actual anniversary (this coming Tuesday!). I didn't have quite as good a time as I did that night a year ago, but it was still really enjoyable. I love that he now has a bed big enough for us both, so I've been sleeping over more often. It was great so literally bringing in the new year together.

Today I got a gorgeous dress for our anniversary dinner. I was kind of disappointed that I hadn't found anything since I really wanted to dress up for it in more than anything I have would let me, but I hadn't really found anything I liked all that much. While I was out today, I gave one more look and I found THE dress. It's supposed to be $100, but since I ♥ Ross, it was only $20. It's a size four, but fits me flawlessly. I'll have to take pictures. We've also decided we're going to Animal Kingdom on January 16. I'll take pictures then, too.

On a vaguely related now, I'm back to seriously dieting again. I sort of stalled out in November and by the middle of December decided I'd just give up the ghost for now and start fresh in January. I still didn't go crazy, I just didn't focus as much on losing. I hovered around 146 for the most part, but with New Year's Eve and allowing myself to have fast food for the first time in two years, I went up to 150 at one point. Just a week into the new year, though, I'm at 145 and feeling confident again about reaching 130 by my birthday at the absolute latest. I don't like WeightWatcher's new PointsPlus program so I'm just following the old Points one on my own now.

Moving looks to be on track, too. I checked with my boss on the timing and she said there shouldn't be any problem with the time frame I proposed or the amount of time I want to take off. My savings are absolutely on target and above and beyond what I need since I managed to pay for a living room set without touching the funds I had set aside for moving related costs at all. My mom and I have gotten most of my kitchen stuff already, too. All I need now are bath room things and, if I get a two bedroom apartment, office furniture. It also looks highly probable that I'll be able to afford the two bedrooms that I want, so that's awesome.

At work, I've realized just what I'm capable of thanks to our payroll administrator having to be out due to surgery. I've navigated payroll questions without assistance, I've stood my ground with questioning the director on how to handle a situation, I've gone the extra mile enough times to have lapped the globe, and I've done it all without asking for anything, not even help when I've been swamped. My annual review should be absolutely stellar.

All in all, things are really great and look to remain that way as far as I can see. =)

I had to scrape ice off my car windows this morning.


I live in Florida.
This is unacceptable.

I'm going back into my blanket cave now until Spring.

It's not a huge amount of money in my eyes, but I would without a doubt use it to pay off my car. I think I'd still have to dip slightly into my savings, but I would quickly be able to recoup the difference with the money I'd save each month. I'd probably continue putting at least half (if not all) my car payment into savings each month until when I would have otherwise have paid off my car, too, just for good measure.

This really makes me wish $10,000 would just fall into my lap.